One of the many devil children spawned from contemporary pop punk fallout. Best described as the easiest way to take a 37 minute shower in booze,spit,sweat,beer cans, and broken glass out side of actually taking a shower in booze, spit, sweat, beer cans, and broken glass. Since their conception in 2004, A-Bomb Chop Shop has made a trademark out... [+] Read More

Yes No

1 out of 1 people agree

The enduring L.A. punk band Social Distortion has overcome numerous personnel shifts, the demise of the Los Angeles hardcore scene that spawned them, and the heroin addiction of singer/guitarist/bandleader Mike Ness to achieve a measure mainstream acceptance for their rootsy, hard-hitting punk without compromise. Inspired by the fertile L.A.... [+] Read More

Yes No

1 out of 1 people agree

In many ways, Black Flag were the definitive Los Angeles hardcore punk band. Although their music flirted with heavy metal and experimental noise and jazz more than that of most hardcore bands, they defined the image and the aesthetic. Through their ceaseless touring, the band cultivated the American underground punk scene; every year, Black... [+] Read More

Yes No

The Dead Kennedys merged revolutionary politics with hardcore punk music and, in the process, became one of the defining hardcore bands. Often, they were more notable for their politics than their music, but that was part of their impact. The Kennedys were more inspired by British punk and the fiery, revolutionary-implied politics of the Sex... [+] Read More

Yes No

The Dils were one of the biggest draws on the late '70s L.A. punk circuit. Led by harmonizing brothers Chip and Tony Kinman, the group played short, aggressive songs with political lyrics, often from a socialist viewpoint. During the group's four years of existence, it only released three 7-inch singles; all of their albums were posthumous,... [+] Read More

Yes No

By playing pure and simple rock & roll without making an explicit issue of her gender, Joan Jett became a figurehead for several generations of female rockers. Jett's brand of rock & roll is loud and stripped-down, yet with overpowering hooks -- a combination of the Stones' tough, sinewy image and beat, AC/DC chords, and glam rock hooks. As the... [+] Read More

Yes No

Loto Ball is best known for his work singing and performing for San Francisco Bay Area death-punk band The Phantom Limbs. During his time with The Phantom Limbs (in which he was sometimes known as “Hopeless”), Loto Ball’s visceral expression of existential distress laced with black comedy, along with the hyper-charged and... [+] Read More

Yes No

A Latino band from Southern California, Plugz created a meld of punk and Hispanic sounds far to the left of Los Lobos without trashing their heritage. Their atmospheric rave-ups can be heard on the soundtrack of the film Repo Man, and some members later become Cruzados. ~ Dan Heilman, All Music Guide

Yes No

In 1965 and 1966, the Eyes released a clutch of singles that stand up to the Who's work from the same era in their blend of extremely innovative guitar feedback/distortion and anthemic mod songwriting. "When the Night Falls," "The Immediate Pleasure," "I'm Rowed Out," "You're Too Much," and the dry "My Generation" satire "My Degeneration" are... [+] Read More

Yes No

Dismissed during their existence as a crass marketing gimmick, the Runaways have grown in stature over the years as the first all-female band to make a substantial impression on the public by playing loud, straight-up, guitar-driven rock & roll. Since all of the members were teenagers (some of whom were still learning to play their instruments... [+] Read More

Yes No

One of Southern California's earliest punk bands, the Weirdos released two EPs during the late '70s before breaking up; consistent reunion gigs during the '80s kept their name alive, and the group returned to the studio in 1988 for Condor, released two years later. The backbone -- and only constant members -- of the Weirdos, brothers John and... [+] Read More

Yes No

Often referred to as "the Mexican Ramones," the Zeros (guitarist and singer Javier Escovedo, second guitarist Robert Lopez, bassist Hector Peņalosa, and drummer Baba Chenelle) were just one of many contributors to the L.A. punk explosion in the late '70s. Although they never received the acclaim of such L.A. peers as Black Flag, the Circle... [+] Read More

Yes No

A product of Southern California's fertile late-'80s and early-'90s power-pop/metal scene, centered around the Whisky-a-Go-Go, the Zippers jumped up to the majors via a contract with MCA. Their only release, however, appeared in 1990. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

Yes No

X were the quintessential L.A. punk rockers before they grew into a world-class rock & roll band and live band; however, enthusiasm for their unique, intelligent and humorous work never quite reached critical mass.

Formed in 1977 after songwriter and bassist John Doe (b. Feb. 24, 1956) met (and later married) Exene Cervenka (b. Feb.... [+] Read More

Yes No